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As a child Christmas day was always the day I counted down to, even before we lit the advent candle and opened the first window on the advent calendar, with bubbles of anticipation growing the closer I got to the big day, even though we never had a lot to spend on presents. As a young mum it took on a whole new dimension, with so many opportunities to involve my own family in the preparations, with everything from making our own paper chains with the boys, to watching them ice our Christmas cake with their dad, and him getting more icing on his clothes than the cake itself. These days for me the lead up to Christmas is another excuse to prepare some marvellous fare (much of it encouraged by Valerie Hedgethorne) followed by a week of joy with family and friends. It is also a chance to look back and savour the success of another year, success due largely to the support of a wonderful editorial team and some fabulous contributors here at . I hope you find something in these pages to help add that little extra sparkle to your own festivities, and may I take this chance to wish each of you a very Happy Christmas.